Firefighter files discrimination lawsuit against FDNY and the city

By Trevor Schubert

Published on March 10, 2006

Lanaird Granger, 41, of Queens, stated in court papers that he feared his safety would be jeopardized as a result of voicing his complaint over the treatment and that he would be labeled a "troublemaker" by the department.

Granger, a firefighter since 1997, stated that even in light of the FDNY's Equal Employment Opportunity office for racism "substantiating" his claims, he was transferred three times over 10 years.

The "shocking and disgusting" noose incident that allegedly occurred on Jan. 19, 2005, has been confirmed by witnesses, but the office claimed they were unable to determine who was responsible for it, Granger's lawyer Derek Sells said.

Granger is seeking unspecified money damages and changes in the Fire Department to "tear down the wall of discrimination," Sells said.

Mike Marshall, vice president of the Vulcan Society, a 300-member organization of black firefighters in New York City, said Vulcan asked the federal Justice Department last year to look into the alleged discrimination problems at the FDNY.

Marshall reported the FDNY is 92 percent white, 4 percent Hispanic, 3 percent black and 1 percent "other."

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